Foldable wheel chair



June 9, 1953 M. A. LRMAN FOLDABLE WHEEL CHAIR Fiied Jan. 1e, 1952 2Sheets-Sheet 1 I y E3 June 9, 1953 M. A. LERMAN 2,641,306

FOLDABLE WHEEL CHAIR Filed Jan. 16, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR.MOA/R05 fik/vom mm/v 12x/MW Patented `une 9, r1953 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE FOLDABLE WHEEL CHAIR Monroe Arnold Lerman, Sunnyside, N. Y.

Application January 16, 1952, Serial No. 266,752 Solaims. (01.155-30)This invention relates to new and useful improvements in foldable wheelchairs for handicapped persons, and has more particular reference to anadjustable seat thereof.

The width of a Wheel Ichair 'is more or less determined by the width ofbuttocks of persons using them. The seat portion of the chair mustnormally be Wide enough so that the user may comfortably sit therein.However, wheel chairs thus constructed are of such widths that they aretoo wide to pass through narrow doors. Consequently, the handicappedperson cannot conveniently enter certain rooms in the home, as forexample the bathroom, which usually has a door smaller than other doors.An important feature of this invention resides in so -constructing thewheel chair that the person sitting therein may operate means foradjusting the Width of the chair to make it possible to pass throughnarrow doors. It is proposed that when the chair is narrowed in widththe sides of the chair will squeeze against the buttocks. However, thisis not objectionable since after the chair has `been lmoved through thenarrow door it may again be widened to its natural width. It is proposedto so construct the width operating feature of this inventionthat itwill not interfere with the normal folding of the wheel chair.Consequently the 'wheel chair may be folded in the usual way at anytime. f

It is also `customary to construct wheel chairs fso that a person sitsat a normal height. While this height is satisfactory most of the timethere are instances when the user wishes to reach up to a higher object.It is now proposed to so construct the new wheel chair that the user mayelevate the seat thereof in order to reach up whenever he so desires. Itis also proposed to so construct this and other elevating features thatthey do not interfere in any way whatsoever with the normal folding ofthe chair.

Arthritic persons often find it difficult to raise themselves from asitting to a standing position. It is another object of this inventionto so construct the new wheel chair that the seat thereof may be tiltedupwards from the front tothe back and that simultaneously the seat backof the chair moves up a corresponding distance in order t-o assist anarthritic person from a rsitting to a standing position.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a wheel chair asdescribed which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured andvsold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention,

and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, and to the appendedclaims in which the various novel features of the invention are moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of the disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a folding wheel chair constructedin accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on theline 4--4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theline 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theline 6-6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theline 'I--l :of Fig. l.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional View taken on the line 8-8 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on theline 9 9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the lineIIJ--I Il of Fig. 6.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary enlarged Vertical sectional view taken on theline I I--I I of Fig. 3.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on theline |2-I2 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view 0f the chair as illustrated in Fig.1, but shown in its folded condition.

Fig. 14 is a sidev elevational view of the chair shown in Fig. 1 butillustrated with the seat thereof in an elevated position.

The new folding wheel chair, in accordance with this invention, includesa pair of side frames AIII each having a large back wheel I I and asmall front wheel I2. Each frame l0 is also provided with a front footrest I3' hingedly mounted in the usual way to move from a. horizontalposition, shown in Fig. 2, to a Vertical position when the wheel chairis folded, as shown in Fig. 13. Each side frame I0 has an arm rest I4, afront Vertical arm I5, and a back substantially vertical arm I6. Eachside frame I0 also has a horizontal bottom arm Il. A flexible seat backI8 is mounted between said side frames Ill.

A seat support member 2n is vertically slidably mounted on each of saidvside frames I0. Each seat support member 20 has a front forked end A2|whlch slidably engage the. front vertical arms I5, and a back forked end22 which slidably enview of the chair shown in vframes 10.

otally connected at their centers by a pintle 26' and having theirbottom ends pivotallyy connected with said side frames I0. Moreparticularly, the bottom ends of the crossedfarms.325i

are connected with tubular umembers 21 which pivotally engage upon thehorizontal bottom" Theworos'sed arms l1 of the side frames l0. arms 25have their top ends pivotally connected with slide members35)'vertically-1slidablymounted upon the side frame l0. The 'top ends-oi --the crossed arms 25 are .provided with tubularmemvbers 3l' whichpivotally engage upon the sliding members 35i. Each slide Amember 30 isprovided with a forked front-enden vwhich slidabli7 engage the frontvertical arms l5 Aon the Side Each slide member 39 is also provided witha forked back end 433 -which-.slidably engage the back vertical arms I6of the Aside yframes I6.

The slide members 30 are limited to bottom positions by stop pins 34which Iarefmounted on the vertical arms 'l5 and vIii-of the side-frameslil. These stop pins A34 determine the-OpenDosition vof the wheelchair.- The `slide members 30 may Vslide upwards `on the vertical arms{5f-and I6 when the chair is 'foldedclosed The seat support members 23normallyY rest upon Ythe slide members 30.

Theseat support members 20-fare :associated with means operable by v:aAperson sitting on `the seat 23 for adjusting 'said seatsupport members'20 lto various elevated :positions for adjusting the 'elevation'.of:the -seat 23. 1 kThis means' -in'- cludes ltelescoping mem-bers :'35,36 and 31 which are free to expand l'at any timein yorder'that saidslide vmembers 30 may zbermoved completely upwards by said lcrossed. i'arms' .125 to 'perm-it `folding -of fsaid wheel chair. vThe'itelescoping members l'36 and` 31 "comprise respectively-the extendabletelescopic member `36 land vthe/istationary telescopic member 31'ofi-ashydraulic jack 38. The telescopic member 31 rigidly connected'with the base 33 .of '-the yjack '38 `which `is -mounted upon theItubular Jm'ember 2-1 of lone of the crossed arms 25.` The base`xnerlflber 39 has forked clampportions 4iwhic`h' engagey down the sidesyof the tubular '.portion :21; frBoltsJAl engage through the bottomvends* ofthe yforked portions 43. A strap -42 isconnected Iwi-thone -ofthe forked portions 40 and withran'adjacent stationary portion of theframe l for lholding the jack 33 in a stationary position w-hilesper'-mitting the tubular .portion 21 to'turnduring the folding and opening ofthe chair.

The hydraulic jack-38 is provided witha handle 43 which extends upwardsto a-position easily reached by a person sitting .onY the seat 23'. Thehandle 43 is hollow. A cable 45-passescthrough this yhandle 43 andconnect-sat -theltop with a knob '46 which is turnably-n ioun-ted. V`This'knob r46 'may be turned for'turning the .cable-45A. The bottom endof "the "cable 45 'connects with 'the valve vcor'trol 41'o'ftlieja`c`k38 so that -fthelperson "arm: 50 which extends downwards.

'the rod 5I at their bottom ends.

may turn the knob 46 in one direction to cause the telescopic member 36to be moved upwards by operation of the handle 43 when desired. I'heknob 46 may also be turned in the other direction to adjust the Valvecontrol 41 so that the weight of the person sitting on the seat 23forces the telescopic member 36 of the `jack 38 downwards.

The telescopic member 36 is provided with an A rod 5l is supported 'atthe bottom of the arm VEll. Support arms 52 and 53 are pivotallyconnected with The top ends ofthe support arms 52 and 53 are pivotallyconnected with brackets 54 mounted on one of the fseatrsupportmembers20. The telescopic arm vfrom-their open positions to slightlyv Anarrower.positions to narrow said wheel chair. This 4means merely 'comprises ahook 55 adapted-to rigidly connect one of said slide members .30 and oneof said seat support members 2l). Asillusltrated Fig. v6, the hook-55 issupported `onia bracket-,56 rigidly connected with said-seatisup- Vportmember 20. The hook 55 has a .top handle 51 by which it may be manuallyturned to aposition .indicated by the dot and dash'lines 55".. In thislatter position the hook 55 extends Ybe- `neathftheslide member 3G.l`Now when the jack v38 is operated to elevate the seatsupport members20, the slide member 30 will be forced upwards. This will cause the`crossed arms 25150 be-pivoted which will iforce together the sidelframes HL The side frames ,l0 -may be `forced 4together so as-to clampagainst the buttocks -oi a person sitting on the seat. This represents.the narrow condition of the chair yin-whichit may -be narrowed`anywhere fromv two to liive 4inches or rmore, andf-be lcapable ofpassi-ng through a narrow doorway.

Saidseat l23 andsaid seat back I8 yare associated .-with'each'other andwith means by which the back :portion of the Vseat :23 may .be -tiltedupwards and simultaneously the seat back I8 may vbe raised in orderv toassist an arthritic personfromafsitting toa standing position. Moreparticularly, theseat back -IIS -is v provided at each -of its sides-withaslide (it).Y Each sli-de60 vertically slidably engages a-track-Sl.mounted upon the backs ofthe vertical armsl t6. Theback fork ends 22have oneofthe iingerszextending Yrearwards and 4passing through openings62 formed inthe bottom portions of-the slides Alill. With thisconstructionwhen the backends of theseat: support-members 20 are tiltedupwards, the slides-.60 will vbe -forced- -upwards vand willtelevate-the seat back 48.v Pivot screws 63 lare attached by chains 64`to .the .front ends ofwthe .seat support members 21).v There vis one`rpivot Preferably, one' of the openings 65 is formed with threads 66engageable by complementary threads 61 of the screws 63 by which' thescrews 63 may be held in position. The telescopic member 35 isconnectedwith the seat support member 26 in a certain way, see Fig. 6. This wayincludes a lug projecting from the seat support member 28 through whichscrews 'II engage and by which the telescopic member 35 is rigidlyconnected with the seat support member 20. This connection is used whenit is desired to elevate the seat 23. However, when it is desired totilt the seat 23 it is necessary that the screws 1I be removed. .The topof the telescopic member 35 rigidly supports a pintle I2 welded inposition which slidably engages a bracket 13 mounted from front to backupon the seat support member 20. Now when the telescopic member 35 iselevated by the jack 38, the pintle 12 is capable of sliding along thebracket 13 so as not to interfere with the arcuate path of the seatsupport member 20 during the tilting of the seat 23. v

The top ends of the support arms 52 and 53 are connected with the otherseat support member 20 in a certain way, as clearly shown in Figs. 1land 12. More particularly, the upper ends of the support arms 52 and 53are engaged through tubular bearings `15. Pintle pins 16 are rigidlymounted on the top of the tubular bearings 13 and slidably engagebrackets 1'I mounted from front to back upon the seat support member 28.Screws 18 normally engage through the seat support member 20 to thesides of the pintles 16 to normally hold the pintles 16 from slidingalong the brackets 11. The screws 18 threadedly engage the tubularbearings 'I5 and hold them stationary. This permits the seat supportmember 20 to be elevatedv during vertical elevating of the seat 23.However, when it is desired to pivot the seat 23, the screws 18 areremoved. Now the pintles 16 may slide along the brackets 11. Each pintle16 is provided with an enlarged head 18 engaging along one of the sidesof the brackets 11 to hold the pintles 16 from accidentally disengagingfrom the brackets 11. Now the support arms 52 and 53 may be elevated fortilting the said seat support member 20.

The operation of the new foldable wheel chair may be understood from thefollowing:

In Figs. 1 to 2 the wheel chair is illustrated in a condition in whichthe seat 23 thereof may be elevated and then moved downwards. To elevatethe seat 23 it is merely necessary for the person sitting on the seat 23to move the jack handle 43 forwards and backwards so as to cause thejack 38 to operate to extend the telescopic member 36 thereof. When themember 36 moved upwards, the telescopic member 35 will move one of theseat support members 20 upwards, and simultaneous the support arms 52and 53 which are supported by the downwardly extended arm 50 rigidlyconnected with the telescopic member 36, will move the other of the seatsupport members 20 upwards. This elevates the seat 23. Fig. 14illustrates in full lines a half way elevated position of the seat 23.The seat 23 may be elevated until it strikes the arm rests I4. Thiselevating action permits a handicapped person to raise himself to reachobjects normally out of reach. The seatv 23 may be lowered merely byturning the knob 46 so that the cable 45 operates the valve connection41 of the jack 38 to release the uid 4which'elevated'member 36. Then theweight of the person will cause the telescopiclmember 36 of the jack 38to move downwards and the seat `23 will be moved to its loweredposition.

The wheel chair may be narrowed so that it may pass through narrowdoors, as follows: The person sitting on the seat 23 merely turns thehook 55 to the position 55 illustrated in Fig.- 6 so as to extendbeneath the lslide member 30. Now the jack handle 43 is manipulated tooperate the jack 38 so as to cause the telescopic member 36 to moveupwards. The hook-55 will' drag the slide member 30 upwards. Upwardmotion of the slide member 36 will be communicated .by the crossed arms25` to the side frames .I0 causing the side frames I0 to be drawntowards each other and in this way narrowing the wheel chair. The chairmay be narrowed to a position in which the side frames I0 press againstthe buttocks of the person in the chair. This represents the narrowestposition of the chair. The :wheel chair isv widened again to its normalposition merely by operating the knob 46 to cause the cable 45 to adjustthe valve connection I41 of the jack 38 so that the weight of the personon the seat 23 causes the telescopic member 36 of the vjack to movedownwards. In this way the seat support members 20 and slide members 3i!are moved downwards and the crossed arms 25 will move the slide framesI0 outwardsto their normal positions.

The seat 23 may be tilted to assist an arthritic person from a sittingto a .standing Upositionas follows: The pivot screws 63 are engagedthrough the opening 65 in theforked ends 2| and the vertical arms I5 inorder to pivotally connect the front ends of the seat support members 20with the vertical arms I5. Now the seat support members 20 are capableof pivoting upwards about the pivot screws 63 as centers. The screws 1Iare now removed-so as to freey thepintle 12 in relation to the brackets13. The screws 18 are now removed in order to free the pintles 16 inrelation to the brackets 11. Now the jack handle 43 is operated in theusual way so as to extend the telescopic member 36 of the jack 38. Thiscauses the support arms 52 and 53 to be also moved upwards. The pinsI'I6 and 12 now slide in the brackets 11 and 13, respectively, liftingthe back of the seat support members 20 in order to pivot the seatsupport members 20. The seat support members 20 may be pivoted upwardsto a position, for example, as illustrated in Fig. 14 by the dot anddash lines 20'. The extensions 22 of the forked ends 22 willsimultaneously force the slides 60 upwards and in this way elevate theseat back I8 as indicated by the dot and dash lines I8' in Fig. 14. Inthe tilted position of the seat 23 and the raised position of the seatback I8, the person is assisted from a sitting to a standing position.

The foldable wheel chair is at all times free to be folded when desired.In order to fold the wheel chair it is merely necessary to lift theslide members 38 upwards and then press the side frames I0 together sothat the side frames I 0 move al1 the way together, as illustrated inFig. 13. It should be noted that the telescopic member 35 isautomatically moved upwards in relation to the telescopic member 36during this folding operation. This extension is necessary in order topermit the wheel chair to be manipulated to its completely foldedcondition. It is further pointed out that the telescopic members 35 and36 of the jack 38 are always free to be 'extended sinceithe fluid ofia:jack lwill/not interff'erewit'h thisaction-f While I 'haveillustratedand described the '.pre-

ferred embodiment 'of my invention, it is'to fbe :understood vthat Idonot limit 'myself to the precise construction hereindisclosed and theright `is reserved to allch'an'ges and modications 'com- "ing rWithinthescope of the invention as 'dened in the appended claims;

Having thus vdescribed .my linvention, v.WhatA I `claim as tnevv and`desire rto secure' by United States Letters Patent is:y

LA foldable Wheel chair; comprising a pair'of Side Vvframes withWhee1s,` a `iiexible seat vback mounted between said frames, a Vslide"member vertically. slidably -mounted on each `of said frames; stops'for determining the bottom .positions of "said slideV members, a I*pairf crossed arms .pivotally l'connected at ytheir centers andhavingtheir.bottom-ends pivotally' connectedfwith `said side iframes andhaving their top ends piv- -otallyconnectedwith said 'slide members forcontrolling r the Hfolding 'together and opening of said side frames, 'aIseat supportmember vertically .'slidably mounted on eachvof said:frames :immediately above said siide members, a flexible seat mountedbetween said seat support members,fand means.' operable bya personsitting on vsaid seat for adjusting Isaid .seat supportmembersA :tovarious elevated vpositions for `adjusting the elevation of said seat,said means including te'lescoping members 'Whichfare free to'extend atA.any time in order thatsaid slide members may `bewmdved 'completely-`upwards by vsaid crossed 'armste permit folding of said chair, saidtele- :scoping members lincluding .a jack mounted on one of -Lsaidsideframesand having its extendable telescopic member yconnected withone Aof said seat-support -members, '.andsupport arms piv- 1otailyconnected with said extendable 'telescopic member'and with said other offsaid seat support members. l

A 4foldable wheel chair, comprising .a pair fof v"side frames withwheels, a flexible seat back mounted `between `said Vframes, a slidemember vertically slidably mounted .on :leach of said frames, stopsiforv.determining the `bottom positions of said slide members, a pair ofcrossed rarms 'zpivotaily :connected `at their centers and-havingitheirfbottom end'slpi-votally'connected .with said-sideframesandhaving'their top ends'pivotally connected With-said slide membersforconftrollingvzthe folding ftogetherand opening of vsaid side frames,vavseat 'support member vertically slidabl'y mounted'omeac'h of Asaid`frames imme diate'lyabove saidslide members, a flexible-seat mounted-betwee'nfsaidvseatsupport members, and means'operablebyia personsitting on said seat foradjusting -saidlseatrsupport members to vari--ous elevated positions?foradjusting `the 'elevation of said rseat, saidmeans 4including--telescoping members'which are `free Vto extend atanytime in order that-said'lslidemembersmay'be moved com*- ,pletely:upwards lbysaid crossed arms Cto permit -folding of saidchairy-saidAchair including means `for rigidly connecting anvadjac'ent pair :ofsaid slide members and said seat*supportmemberszfor partially closingsaid'side frameswhen said seat support members are adjusted upwards.

3.- A-foldable Wheel chair as'deiined in claimQ, in which said meansffor rigidly connecting lsaid members-comprises afhookzon one of saidmembers engageable with the other of said members.

MONROE ARNOLD LERlWAN.

References 'Cited intlieflefof this patentA UNITED 'STATESIPTENTS NumberName Date 2,354,949 Duc'avich --.ma Aug. 1, 1944 2,442,303 Mayeld uw May25, 194.8

FOREIGN PATEN TS Niunber Country Date 531,184 Great Britain 1.. Dec.`31, `194:0

